This is RMS's suggestion on the area which the Free Software movement
needs help on. If anyone could help, it would be great. FN
On Tue, 11 Feb 2003, Richard Stallman wrote:
> Okay, what would you'll need? FN
>
> We need free Java replacement libraries.
> We need graphical apps for many jobs--see the GNU task list
> for a long list. We need speach recognition, and better speech
> generation.
>
Need one say any more? They authorities were unwilling to provide a Rs
100 book with each computer, but they could give Microsoft Rs 3000 for
each computer! -- FN
---------- Forwarded message ----------
This is from DIGITAL GOA, an IT newspaper published from here... FN
I am posting the following update on cyberage scheme which appeared in
the latest (February) issue of Digital Goa (published today).
Niraj
CYBERAGE SCHEME UPDATE
Cyberage students will get Internet, educational CDs
Rs one crore spent on the software alone
Hardly 100 computers are distributed so far under the Cyberage student
scheme, launched on December 19. However, as per a senior official in
the Education Department, the department will try and finish atleast 80
per cent of the computers by February 20.
The delay was due to the late finalization of a deal with the Microsoft
for installing Windows operating system on the computers, the official
added.
"The work of installing operating system is going on in full swing at
the factory itself."
It may be noted that the government had floated cyberage student scheme
under which every XIth Science student in Goa will get a free computer.
This year 3,000 students will be benefited from the scheme. (For more
details of the scheme read the last issue of Digital Goa)
Formal functions will be organized in each taluka to hand over computers
to the students in the coming weeks.
The government negotiated with Microsoft for the licenced copy of
WindowsXP, MS Office and McAfee virus scan for Rs 3,090/- through an
agent -- Apex Computer and Engineering Services. The Microsoft had
earlier quoted Rs. 6,970 per system for the package having combined
retail market value of Rs 26,000. Pertinently, the government will shell
out whopping (appx) Rs one crore on the software itself. The total
budget allocated for this scheme for this year is Rs 10 crores.
While justifying the decision of loading windows O/S as against Linux
O/S, which is absolutely free, the officer said that there were
complaints from the parents and students whose systems were loaded with
Linux operating system. "They are more familiar with Windows. I am
getting so many calls everyday complaining that Linux was difficult to
use", he said.
When asked whether XI Science students would be in a position to make
best use of these computers, he disclosed the government's plans to
provide educational CDs and internet connection to the beneficiaries of
this scheme at the subsidized rates.
"We will tie-up with BSNL to give internet connection to these students
at nominal rates. We are also in the process of establishing CD
libraries in every higher secondary schools on all subjects."
CYBERAGE STUDENT SCHEME SURVEY
We posed the following question to the host of IT professionals and
businessmen and others to know their view on the Cyberage scheme. They
were given 14 options to choose from.
Sadly, we received only four responses. However, these four opinions can
be considered as the representative voices of the IT community, given
the responders� stature and involvement in the Goa�s IT sector.
Obviously, it is a mixed response. However, it is fairly clear from all
the four responses that there is no objection to the cyberage scheme per
se. but the questions are raised as regard to the methodology, timing
and the level at which it is implemented.
Only two options got more than one vote -- If the 3000 computers were
shared among 300 schools, we would have got better results and XI
Science is the wrong time at which to give a student a PC.
Interestingly, options No. 1,2,9,11 and 13 did not have any takers.
What do you think of the Cyberage scheme for students in Goa (under
which Std XI Science students get an almost-free computer) and its
implementation?
1. Great idea, great implementation : poor idea, yet to know about
implementation
2. Great idea, implementation could be better:
3. Great idea, poor implementation
4. Engineering students given these computers could be better off
5. Why not give computers to teachers too/instead of students?
6.If the 3000 computers were shared among 300 schools, we would have
got better results
7. Tender terms kept out smaller players
8. XI Science is the wrong time at which to give a student a PC
9. Transparency in computer deals a still an elusive goal for Goa
10. Software, OS, optimal issues still remain pending
11. Why criticize a good initiative?
12. This is a good start
13. More views from professionals could have been incorporated
14. We still quite don't know what's happening...
15. It will adversely affect the IT business community with a drop in
computer sales.
Dr V. V. Kamat
Faculty,
Department of Computer Science & Tech.,
Goa University
ANSWER: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 14
Albert D. Gouveia
Scientist
NIO
Dona Paula
ANSWER 12
Comtech Systems
Option 6
Ashley Delaney
Software/Hardware Consultant
Saligao
Answers 7,8 and 10
------------------------ END ---------------------
India's first GNU/Linux magazine made it to the newsstands recently. The
first, inaugural February 2003 issue contains:
ON THE CD-------------------------------------------------
* Knoppix with bundled software (Open Office, KOffice,
Mozilla Navigator, Mozilla Mail, Konqueror, GIMP, Ksnapshot
(screen capture), XFig (geomatrical figure editor),
QCAD (CAD software), XMMS (autio tool), games, KGeo and
KStars (educational), KDevelop (the "Linux cousin of VC++)
NEWS REPORTS----------------------------------------------
* Axis (Mass., US) launches Linux system-on-a-chip
* Hyper-threading can speed up Linux by 51 per cent
HT makes a single processor behave like two logical ones.
* Hong Kong trio unveils Chinese GNU/Linux OS for mobile devices
* Red Hat presepares GNU/Linux for technical workstations
* Ark -- another distribution for the desktop "for the masses"
* Linux ver 2.6 (kernel) by first half of 2003
* Sony, Matsushita plan GNU/Linux audio-video software
* Red Hat shifts to carrier-grade
* New IP videophone features embedded GNU/Linux OS
* Cellphone makers may go the GNU/Linux way too
INDIA NEWS------------------------------------------------
* Font contest winners spurn Microsoft, go LGPL
* GNU/Linux-based handhelds -- Simputer and Kaii from B'lore
* Let's make an 'apnalinux' -- creating one's own distro using
Anaconda, and tweaking a RedHat distribution (how-to guide)
* VIA C3 800 MHz, 20GB HDD, 64MB Hynix RAM, Asus motherboard,
Aztec modem, FDD and headphones e-pc for Rs 11,990 and
above without monitor.
* Cygsoft Inc's ManageIP -- network management solution
Free trial online at www.cygsoft.com
* Intrusion detection software from nSecure www.nsecure.net
* LG's GNU/Linux-based MY PC Rs 33,900 for basic model and
Rs 36,500 for the multimedia model (P4, 128MBRam, 40GB,
LG 15" monitor, LG 52XCDRom, optical mouse, keyboard, speakers)
* LX50 server from Sun Microsystem
* Mithi Software, Pune offers Connect Server for GNU/Linux.
* Kalculate -- an Indian accounting package for GNU/Linux
* TechnoInfosys brings GNU/Linux-based net management system
Check www.technoinfosys.com This comes from Navi Mumbai.
* Storage strategy software for GNU/Linux from Veritas, Delhi
* Website (Kerala) offers Dodobase, instant web catalog
publishing product. www.websight-tech.com
* Star Office 6.0, Sun Microsystem's affordable software...
* Bicnet offers eBiz integrated solution (pre-sales
management, sales catalogue, shopping cart, auction floor,
general ledger and financial accounting, inventory,
e-recruitment, customer relationship mgt) www.bicserve.com
* Rolta's security and messaging products for Indian corporate
networks www.rolta.com
* Octopus (Mumbai) offers complete enterprise mgt solution
* E-mail manager from Data Impex (Delhi)
* RTLinux gains support in India
* Indian govt's move to "let in [GNU]Linux"
FEATURES--------------------------------------------------
* GNU/Linux@Home -- it can coexist with Windows
* KDE's KOffice -- an office suite that delivers
* GNU/Linux certification -- The right choice?
* Introducing RedHat 8.0
* SCO Linux 4.0
* Websites that offer more info on GNU/Linux (www.tldp.org
The Linux Documentation Project, www.linuxlinks.com,
www.linux.org, www.redhat.com, www.linux-india.org)
* What's Knoppix?
* Knoppix -- software bounty
* Guide to running Knoppix
* Shape and trim your Linux kernel
* Red Hat's installation blues
* Ten tips to make your life easier
* What is a diskless PC?
* Developer's basics: A world of shells...
* Penguin programmer (developers basics)
* Overview of GNU/Linux for the embedded appln developer
* "Govt must declare [GNU]Linux the official OF of
India," Sudhir Gandotra, CEO Indserve InfoTech
* Is [GNU]Linux good for government?
* Linux TCO -- a bitter harvest?
* Penguin soup is the soul of IS managers
* GNUCorner: Open Source -- a brief journey through its times
(Err... could someone explain what GNU has to do with
Open Source? Wasn't one trying to get away from the other?FN)
MISCELLANEOUS---------------------------------------------
* CERTIFICATION: Linux-based products, tested and tried by
LFY Lab, will earn the 'Linux Friendly' certification.
Other common IT products that work without any hassles
to get a 'Tested OK' mark.
* EDITORIAL: Initial discussions about LINUX For You raised
a few eyebrows, accompanied by soul-searching questions...
Key question -- why a magazine on [GNU]Linux? (Many times
accompanied by -- are you going anti-Microsoft?)
Pay Rs 50 (that's the cost, including the CD) and see if you like
it. Don't forget to send in your suggestions to
efylinux1(a)electronicsforu.com
--
Frederick Noronha * Freelance Journalist * Goa * India 832.409490 / 409783
Writing with a difference... on what makes *the* difference
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Canadian campaigner for open knowledge access in India
By Papri Sri Raman, Indo-Asian News Service
Chennai, Feb 10 (IANS) John Willinsky teaches Shakespeare in Canada but he's
here promoting a world "where knowledge is free".
Willinsky, pacific professor of literature and technology at the University
of British Columbia and a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, is now on a
tour of India, campaigning for open access to knowledge.
As the science of information technology advances, "people's access to
knowledge is actually decreasing instead of increasing", he says.
For example, he recalls that the library of the Agriculture University in
Bangalore subscribed to 1,000 journals in 1956. Today it can afford just 600
such academic publications.
"The reason more and more libraries are finding it difficult to provide
printed or online copies of journals is because big publishers have
increased their costs manifold.
There are online journals that cost at least $3 to just access once, and are
made available for just a few hours at a time.
"Only a limited number of academic papers are available online free of cost
for an interested reader to access."
Researchers in developing countries are devoid of a large volume of
literature available on a subject. High costs and copyright rules prevent
access.
"Although new technology has made access possible, fewer academic journals
are available to the reader," Willinsky says.
He has been lobbying this week at the Indian Institute of Science and the
National Centre for Scientific Information in Bangalore and at the Institute
of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai for online publication of academic
journals under a public-funded Canadian project called the Public Knowledge
Project.
In Bangalore and Chennai he has also been demonstrating the software he and
his graduate and undergraduate students developed last year for anyone who
wants to put an academic journal online.
For both the reader and the host, the access is free and response is
automated, he told his audience at a lecture organised by the Computer
Society of India and the Madras Library Association this weekend.
Explaining how he got interested in the issue of "open access and an open
source system", Willinsky said copyright laws of big publishing houses like
Reed Elsevier, which publishes more than 60 percent of the academic journals
in America and Europe, bothered him.
In a year, they can hold the copyright to academic articles published in
2,000 academic journals, the professor said.
All universities in the West require faculty members to publish their
research papers, thesis and other academic work in journals.
"Their promotions, recognition and continuation of jobs depend on the number
of publications in a time frame of five to seven years," the professor
explains.
This forces scholars to give away their intellectual property rights,
Willinsky told his Indian audience.
Big publishing houses like Elsevier earned annual revenues up to $5.5 billon
a decade ago. The work was obtained free from the scholars.
According to the present rules of the intellectual property rights act,
anything developed by a worker hired for a company belongs to the company
because it conceives the project and provides facilities.
However, the copyright belongs to the creator of the project or thesis and
to the public if it is supported by public funds, especially in
universities.
The study for public benefit is sold to the publisher unless it is 70 or 100
years after the death of the academic.
This got Willinsky thinking of how much it costs to publish an academic
journal online.
His first search took him to a publisher who said it could be done free. At
the end of his search list was the Cornell University that said it costs as
much as $2.7 million to publish an academic journal online.
With such varied result, the professor got nine computer students to develop
a software that enabled people to put academic journals online free in a
secure and formatted manner.
The process cost about $65,000 but once the software was developed, it was
made available free of cost.
The Public Knowledge Project is funded by a global security and
sustainability grant for knowledge exchange and technology research
capabilities of developing nations from the MacArthur Foundation.
It explores how technology can be used to improve the professional and
public value of scholarly research.
"By bringing together researchers and librarians, it is investigating the
social, economic, and technical issues entailed in the use of online
infrastructure and public accessibility," said Willinsky.
The project also seeks to integrate emerging standards for digital library
access and document preservation, such as Open Archives and InterPARES, as
well as for topic maps and doctoral dissertations, and helps develop
knowledge management website prototypes.
--Indo-Asian News Service
Dear Shri Kamal Kumar Pal,
Thanks for the reciprocation.
You should have received intimation from FSF by now.
Waiting to hear from you on FSF forum.
Rgds,
CK Raju
On Friday 07 February 2003 04:15 am, Kamal Kumar Pal wrote:
> Dear Mr. Raju,
> Thank you very much for your mail.
> I would love to do that.
> Best regards,
> Kamal Kumar Pal
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "CK Raju" <ckraju(a)zyberway.com>
> To: <kamalpal(a)vsnl.com>
> Cc: <fsf-friends(a)gnu.org.in>
> Sent: Sunday, February 09, 2003 7:30 AM
> Subject: Invitation to join FSF
>
>
> Dear Kamal Pal,
> I request you to join the Free Software Foundation - India, for sharing
> your views and experiences.
>
> Would you be gracious enough to throw light on your achievements, and your
> interactions with corporates, so that we could be enlightened.
>
> Regards,
> CK Raju,
> KILA, Thrissur
Dear Kamal Pal,
I request you to join the Free Software Foundation - India, for sharing your
views and experiences.
Would you be gracious enough to throw light on your achievements, and your
interactions with corporates, so that we could be enlightened.
Regards,
CK Raju,
KILA, Thrissur
Going by the statements from Kamal Pal ( kamalpal(a)vsnl.com) of West Bengal,
who has designed a GIS application on his own, the just revealed trend of
corporates to sneak into the Government machinery with offers of a
'business partner' if Mr Kamal Pal withheld the development of the
application, and its release to the Govt of India, appears to be quite
disturbing.
Requesting our journalists to get in touch with Shri Kamal Pal to dig out
further details. If corroborated by Kamal Pal in public,
this news can turn out to have huge ramifications elsewhere.
CK Raju
Thrissur
GNUnify! The All India Free Software Festival
16-February-2003 Venue: Symbiosis Vishwa Bhawan, Senapati Bapat Road,
Ganesh Khind, Pune - 4.
Time Themes Symbiosis Vishwa Bhawan
09:30-10:30 Welcome and Opening Ceremony
Dr. S.B. Mujumdar (Chancellor SIEC Deemed University)
10:30-11:00 Morning Tea Break
11:00-11:40 IT Industry and GNU/Linux
Mr. Atul Chitnis (CTO - Exocore Consulting)
"Linux/OpenSource on Corporate Desktop"
11:40-12:20 Free Software in Education
Dr. G. Sivakumar (Head of Computer Center - IIT Mumbai)
"IIT Bombay's Network and Systems setup
and the crtical role of GNU/Linux in it".
12:20-1:00 Prof. Jitendra Shah (Senior Lecturer - VJTI, Mumbai)
"Free Software with Localisation in Education"
01:00-02:00 Lunch Break
02:00-02:40 Future Tech
Mr. M Sasikumar (Senior Research Scientist - NCST)
"A.I. Demystified"
02:40-03:20 * * * Made In India
o Mr. Venky Hariharan (MediaLabs) and Mr. Guntupalli Karunakar (IndLinux)
"GNU/Linux localisation and its usage, esp its relevance to our country."
p Mr. Naba Kumar (Software Engineer - Belzabar Software Development India
Pvt Ltd.) "Anjuta IDE for C,C++ on GNU/Linux"
03:20-04:00
Mr. Samyeer Metrani (Group Manager Embedded Systems - Encore Software
Limited) "Simputer"
04:00-04:30 Tea Break
04:30-05:10 Government and GNU/Linux
Dr. S.Ramakrishnan (Senior Director -
Department of Information Technology
- Government of India)
05:10-05:30 Introduction and Felicitation of Guru
Dr. Nagarjuna (TIFR) Introduction to RMS
Dr. T.M. Kanvinde (Director - SICSR) Felicitation
05:30-07:00 The Guru Speaks
Mr. Richard Stallman (President and Founder of FSF)
"The Free Software Movement and the GNU/Linux Operating System"
7:10-07:30 Free Software Song and Vote Of Thanks
Students
SICSR
--
_____ _ _ _
| ___| __ ___ __| | ___ _ __(_) ___| | __ Freelance Journo, Goa India
| |_ | '__/ _ \/ _` |/ _ \ '__| |/ __| |/ / http://linuxinindia.pitas.com
| _|| | | __/ (_| | __/ | | | (__| < http://www.bytesforall.org
|_| |_| \___|\__,_|\___|_| |_|\___|_|\_\ http://opennews.indianissues.org
--
Frederick Noronha * Freelance Journalist * Goa * India 832.409490 / 409783
Writing with a difference... on what makes *the* difference
